May had no idea what to do as she followed Josh inside the bar. If he thought her mild attempt at being a bad girl by suggesting doing some graffiti - which had also terrified her, was putting them at risk of being arrested, walking into a bar she was clearly not old enough to go into would probably be more on the law breaking side than anything else. Thinking of how his date of birth had him covered or that very genuine looking fake ID - had he forgot their age gap and brought her along as a mistake? She kept her mouth shut though, sticking close behind him as he walked through the small weeknight crowd. No one seemed to pay her any attention and keeping her eyes on Josh's back, she tried not to draw any attention to herself.

Going upstairs, the music didn't seem so loud and the stench of stale beer and bad body odour seemed to be limited to the first floor. The smaller bar up there was empty, the lights off and yet a few people sat on the stools in front of it as if waiting for a bartender to miraculously appear and top up their nearly empty glasses. Josh glanced back and smiled as they left that section behind and going down a small corridor, it opened up in a larger room that May instantly got a bad feeling about.

The people here all waved or acknowledged Josh as he came in, not hiding their curiosity as they stared openly at her. On instinct she inched closer to him, yet he barely seemed to notice everyone here. He only led them to the far corner were a few worn leather sofa's sat either side of a fireplace. While he said hello to some of the guys sitting down already, she just stood there - still clueless as to what she should be doing. Her hands seemed wrong in her pockets - would they make them think she had something to hide in them or did folding her arms make her look too defensive? Should she look happy to be here, or sad or bored?

"This is May, my girlfriend." Josh introduced, gently tugging on May's arm to bring her closer to the group. His fingers linked with hers, which at least solved the dilemma of what to do with that hand and with her free one, she gave a little wave before deciding to slip it into her pocket afterall.

"Heard a lot about you May! I'm the only one worth knowing around here." One of the older looking guys stood, extended his hand and May quickly shook it. His blonde hair fell into his eyes and pushing it back, May saw the wink he sent Josh's way as he went to sit back down. "I'm Ryan, this idiots cousin. Sit, join us!"

"We'll just grab a drink, be right back." Josh kept hold of May's hand and they went to the bar May had missed coming in. "What did you want?"

"Ah, just a coke?" She frowned, glancing around.

"They won't check your ID here May. You can have whatever you want."

May thought about that for a couple of minutes and figured when in Rome. "Okay. Vodka and OJ?"

Josh grabbed a beer and going back to the others, it was only Ryan and two others there now. May hadn't even noticed the rest of them leave, and sitting beside Josh, she tried to look casual and not as completely freaked out she felt inside. It took a second before she worked that apart from Ryan, the people here had done a complete change which didn't help her anxiety at all.

"Sorry, I never introduced everyone before. This dork is Craig." Ryan leaned in close to the man beside him, chucking his arm over his shoulders he ignored the glare sent his way.

Craig was not a dork at least not what May would stereotype one as. He looked as though he was as old as Chad, but twice as mean and from his exposed arms, also put some effort into getting that kind of muscle definition. More piercings than she could count lined his ears, another couple in nose, eyebrows and catching May staring, he smiled rolling something metal around between his teeth; even his tongue was pierced! Focusing on her drink, Ryan didn't seem to notice the exchange or his friends low chuckle.

"I'm Rohit." A hand was offered to May and putting down her drink she looked up into kind, dark brown eyes. It actually surprised her as she had already to think the worst of everyone here, and accepting it, his hand was rather soft around hers. "Ignore them."

Rohit didn't appear to be much older than May, and since the serving of minors didn't seem to be an issue here, she had no idea how old he was. His indian heritage was still heard in his accent, while his bronzed skin, dark hair and better dress sense set him apart from everyone else in their little corner. Then again, May was positive her pajamas would look like formal wear when compared to Ryan's outfit of ripped jeans, falling apart boots and food stained shirt.

"I hope you don't me coming along, it was a last minute thing." May felt the need to explain why she was there as something about Rohit made her want him to like her. It was strange, yet she could tell he was somehow the one in charge and May needed that kind of support behind her.

"Not at all." He smiled reassuringly and May started to relax enough that not everything she was doing felt awkward. "How have you been Josh, I haven't seen you in months! Though, now we've met May I don't blame you for wanting to spend time with her."

Trustworthy and charming, May was impressed - maybe he was like she was supposed to be and unaware of what other things Josh was involved in.

"That's kind of why I bought May in to meet you guys." Josh told him, glancing at May. "Things have been going great between us lately."

It had been two months and May would not say things had been going great - especially not lately. Then again, she also wasn't about to correct him on the matter.

"Why wouldn't they?" Craig asked sarcastically before mumbling under his breath. "You're a real, catch."

May might not be the best at being a spy, or hiding her emotions and sometimes she sucked at working out what was going on until it was too late. Tonight she had successfully invaded the enemy's territory, did nothing to give away her fear or revulsion at the position she had put herself in and her good luck was continuing as she saw past the friendly facade those around her were clearly faking. Despite being younger than the others, Rohit was in charge somehow. Craig kept giving Josh dirty looks so clearly there was a story there and due to the uncanny similarities between Josh and Ryan May didn't doubt their relation.

"Got something to say Craig?" Rohit pounced instantly and everyone went quiet.

"Not at all, buddy."

From there general conversation started up. The guys talked about something they were all watching on TV, asked May about school and any other time she would have felt welcomed and accepted, rather than a new toy Josh was simply showing off to everyone. People she had a feeling that even Josh didn't know came past and said hello, all looking at her with that weird interest that made her want to run for home. That wasn't possible though; Caleb, her family, other shifters - whether they liked her or not, were all depending on her. Pulling out now wasn't an option because she was their only one.

"So has Josh told you about his little obsession with the supernatural?" Ryan drew May back in the conversation as he sat another drink in front of her. "Get this, he thinks vampires exist!"

May nearly choked as she finished the last of her first drink off. Josh gently hit her back as she managed not to drop her glass and put it on the table so she could keep coughing. After a few deep breaths white assuring everyone it just been a piece of ice that surprised her, Ryan carried on teasing Josh.

"It's stupid right. I mean, they've blown those myths out of the water. When those legends came about, the people knew practically nothing about medicine and disease like we do now. Those people were sick, no part of the undead." He stated very matter of factly.

The worst part was, May knew where this going and tried to work out what to say without making it obvious she knew what they were talking about. "That's true, but so what if he likes that kind of mythology? It's no different to my interests in superheroes. They're all fictional, and it doesn't stop me from reading about them or watching movies."

"Good point." Ryan mused, smirking at Josh.

"He doesn't think they're just fiction though. He thinks they actually exist." Craig added. "Different to how you can tell between reality and fiction with your superheroes."

"So? Children still believe in Santa Claus." May defended. "It doesn't make it wrong."

"What do you think, are vampires real?" Craig raised his eyebrows, looking at Josh as if he expected him to answer for her, but all he did was stare at his beer.

"Well no, but-"

"What about werewolves?" Ryan interrupted.

"Guys, don't start-" Josh finally spoke up, yet his warning was ignored.

"No. Of course they don't but-" May answered easily and truthfully because werewolves didn't exist. There was no half man, half wolf creature running around town on a full moon biting others so they to would suffer the same curse. That was for movies.

"What if we all believe in werewolves though?" May looked at Craig who seemed rather pleased with himself now.

"Then I'd think you were all entitled to your beliefs, but I don't believe in them. Or vampires." She told him easily.

Craig laughed, and leaned back into the chair going quiet. Ryan on the other hand seemed eager to keep going.

"What if we told you we've seen them, that we can prove they exist?"

May swallowed nervously. "Well of course I'd have to see what proof you have before I say whether or not I believe you."

"Ryan." Josh warned again, but his cousin didn't seem to hear him as he looked only at May.

"That can be arranged."

"What are you doing?" Not happy would be understatement as Josh stood up, watching as Rohit pulled out a small tablet from his pocket.

"She wants to see our proof Josh." Rohit stood, and not being quite as tall as Josh he lacked the kind of intimidation he was aiming for. It didn't mean there wasn't some kind of unsaid war going on between the pair as eventually Josh was the one to sit back down and let his friend pull up a video to show May.

The whole time Josh held May's hand, and taking a big gulp of her new drink, May tried to act completely casual about the whole affair. Who knew what they were going to show her, and she had to prepare herself for anything.

"This is a couple of months old, but it's the clearest footage we have." Rohit told her, passing the device over.

May didn't recognize anything about the land and a flicker of relief bounced around her stomach. It was in night vision, the eerie green and black of the video adding to the horror of the moment. If she saw a zombie go limping past, she wouldn't have been surprised.

"Any second now." Ryan mumbled eagerly, leaning over the table to watch it too.

It was a wolf that appeared, tongue rolling out to one side; his steps light and easy. Spinning around, it moved into a play bow before another appeared looking just as content as the first. The two darted away and looking up at Ryan, he only motioned for her to keep watching. Sure enough, the tree just to the right had the duo sitting there - one laid down, rolling onto its back as it raised a paw out to the other. They were just too wolves playing around, nothing unusual about that at all really and just as she was about to ask what their evidence was - it happened.

The figure on the right blurred, the screen jumped as though it was experiencing bad reception and gone with the second wolf. May leaned in closer, trying to work out if she knew who it was and thankfully it wasn't. The man moved to rub the other wolf's stomach, treating it as though it was a well loved family pet before getting up and moving off. Conversation was clearly being had as the wolf nodded and shook its before the man came back clothed. Dumping a bag down before the animal, it too became a blur before a woman appeared. As she started to dress, the video ended.

"What about now, do you believe?" Craig said sarcastically still just sitting there.

May prayed she didn't look as sick as she felt. "Well, that was something. I just don't know what that something was."

"What do you mean?" Josh asked.

"Is this a joke? I could probably do this given the right equipment."

"It's not fake and you know it." Ryan snapped.

May met his gaze, narrowing her eyes at him. "I don't know. Anyone with an editing app could do this. How did you get it?"

"Some friends set a camera up in a forest not far from here." Rohit told her calmly.

"Sure they're not just making you guys look like idiots? How many other people have you shown this too?" May turned to Josh, trying to look passive about it all. "Did you, maybe, see something like this to make you think vampires were real?"

"No May, I didn't." He answered angrily. "This footage is legit. You really don't think werewolves exist?"

"No, sorry. Why would I?" Did they seriously think she'd just admit to knowing exactly what she just saw, and tell them everything she knew about her own people? "I can see this is important to you, but I'm sorry. I just can't believe it's true."

"No?" She put her hand on his hand, and gave a little squeeze as she shook her head, only he didn't seem as though he was willing to let it go just yet. "What about this then?"

"Josh, what are you doing?" Rohit demanded, making a reach for the tablet yet Josh moved it out his way making Craig laugh. He clapped his hands together eagerly, leaning closer as he stared openly at May.

"You have no idea about this then?" Josh snapped at May, holding up the screen her stomach sunk.

Oh she knew all about that.

There was no doubt in her mind the wolf on the screen was Bianca. She moved out of the darkness of her cover slowly, before sprinting to her car and seconds later, the one that followed was Caleb. May felt dizzy, scanning the space around the car and recognizing the back of the restaurant she gripped the device that little bit harder as pain shot up from her neck to behind her eyes and into her head as she clenched her jaw so tight she thought she might actually break her teeth.

'Calm down. They're watching you. This is your chance.' She repeated to herself, her breaths coming in short fast intakes.

"Is that Bianca's car?" She thought out loud, proud of how surprised her voice sounded.

Josh shifted in his seat beside her, and glancing up at him, he looked so focused and intense as he stared at her, she wanted to rip his eyes out for setting her up like this. May's chest tightened, the pressure of a scream heavy at the base of her throat yet somehow she managed to swallow it back down.

Then Bianca shifted, opened the car and quickly dressed. From the other side, Caleb suddenly appeared, pausing as he put his clothes back on to look around them. The footage ended as the car drove off and May knew what had happened then. Without thinking she hit the back button, watching it again and again until finally it was Rohit that pried it from grip.

"Did you not know?" He asked in obvious disbelief.

May could sense their unease; a mixture of fear and uncertainty filling all of the men around her. She wanted them to be afraid, to question going out in the dark where who knows what - werewolves maybe vampires - lingered in the shadows waiting for their time to strike. To be the hunted instead of the hunter, the thought make her lick her lips in anticipation.

"This is a joke right?" She sounded a touch hysterical at that point and tried to tone it down. "You all set this up with my parents cause I snuck out right?

"May, calm down." Josh told her gently.

"Calm down? I know those people! When was that even taken?" May shouted.

"So, you believe now?" Ryan teased.

"I-I don't know? They're good people! I've grown up with them. Werewolves are, are-"

"Monsters." Craig finished for it. "Surprise Alice, you're in Wonderland now."

May looked at him, her jaw dropping in a mixture of shock and need to hurt him; badly.

"They are not monsters!"

"I'm sorry you found out this way. I am, honestly." Rohit started as Josh tried to make her sit back down. May knew that was a lie. "Did you really not know about these werewolves in your family?"

"In my family, what are you saying?" May demanded.

"They've been lying to you May. Treating you like you are less than they are because you are not equal to them. They kill innocent people. I'm surprised you've lasted this long and your mother." Josh told her.

"My mother?" She gasped.

"You're both human. From what we've been able to tell, humans are only kept around for one reason." Ryan told her. "One is to breed. Werewolves aren't made by being bitten, not even on a full moon. They have to be born."

May wanted to punch him, instead her hands trembled and looking at Josh she gasped. "Do you think my Dad is-"

"We know he is." Josh assured her.

May slapped a hand over her mouth as she slunk away from him into the corner of the lounge. She needed to breath, keep a clear head. They were buying her reaction; she could feel their pity and disgust being sent her way. Yet talking about her family, seeing that footage - it was a struggle not to see red and give them a one on one experience with these 'werewolves'. Problem with that was, she didn't shift.

"I know this is a lot for you to process May, but we are here for you." Rohit moved to squat in front of her, leaning on the armrest of the chair he patted her knee in an attempt to sooth her. "We've been doing this for a few years now yet still don't understand much about this species. Think about it, and if you are willing, join us."

May paused. "Join you?"

"We simply want to understand these creatures, the safety of the general population is our main interest."

"What?" She wiped her eyes, and looking around, nearly everyone was looking their way.

"Our goal is to monitor them. Find out their strengths and weaknesses, see what makes them angry and sets off any urges to kill. They are well adapted to our society, and will make you think they are not as bad as we know they are, but essentially, the wolf they become drives takes over and if you think you are safe, you are wrong." He assured her.

"But they've never-"

"Not yet they haven't." Craig interrupted. "Think about that."

So May went quiet, appearing to do just that and after ten or so minutes, the group started to disband until she was left with Josh.

"How can I go home now?" She sighed unhappily.

"You have to. They can't know you know about them." He told her. "If anything happens, call me."

"And put you in danger?"

"I think your parents might be different to the type Rohit was talking about. I've met them and would even think they're not as bad as others we've come across."

"What do you mean by that?"

Josh sighed. "It's what we do. Find these creatures and do what we have to."

"Is that why you're with me, because of my Dad?"

"No! No! Nothing like that! You were just a bonus of coming here." He took her hand in his and it was hard to doubt his feelings for her as there was none of the disgust she had scented on the others on him. "Would you think about joining us?"

"What?"

"They're part of my team. My Dad is our unit leader, Rohit is in training to take command of his own group." There was something there that made May think there was more to that and he wasn't happy about it.

"He looks about our age."

"He's eighteen, but his parents were killed when he was five and he's been in training ever since."

"Did, werewolves, kill them?" Josh nodded. "Why?"

"Well, his mother was one of them. They really value their females for breeding and because she mated a human, they were all executed. Rohit surviving was a miracle." He sighed. "He doesn't talk about it though. You need to remember they don't think like we do, try not to fight with your Dad too much in case the beast comes out and think about joining us. We could use you on our team. You're the only cross-breed we know who still has access into an actual pack unit."

"I am?" May thought about that, which meant there were others like her and essentially like Rohit who were already working against the shifters.

"I keep telling you you're special and this only adds one more reason why."

May went quiet once more and once they finished their drink, Josh offered to take May home. She barely said goodbye when he stopped two houses down from hers and seeing all the lights off inside, she went around the back. Despite the dark, her mother sat in the kitchen nursing a cup of tea and the second May went in, she was on her. All May could do was hold onto her tightly, finally let out everything she hadn't been able to do that night.

"Shhh, my darling. You're home now." Miranda soothed, gently stroking her hair as she let May cry. "It's going to be okay."

"No Mum, it's not." She sighed into her shoulder.

Miranda moved her into the kitchen, and getting a few tissues, let May blow her nose and handed over her cup of tea in effort to calm down her daughter. With her arm around her shoulders, Miranda led May into the games room, where Chad, Eli and Selena sat guarding the quivering, growling figure of her father as the 'beast'.

"Oh Dad!" May handed the cup to her Mum and fell to her knees before the creature she was supposed to be afraid of. The weight of the wolf head on her shoulder and his musky odour instantly made May feel better. "I love you so much!"

Miranda knelt beside May, one hand on her free shoulder and her other on Braydons back. "We love you too honey. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Well, as fine as I can be." She hugged her dad that little bit tighter before moving back.

The wolf shifted slightly, headbutting Miranda so she ended up sitting on the floor and with his head in her lap, clearly Braydon wasn't joining them anytime soon. Not bothered by this, Miranda simply stroked his head and neck, calming the animal and reassuring the human within while May curled up on the space beside Chad on the lounge.

"They want me to join them." May told everyone.

"What?" Miranda gasped.

"Wait, one second." Chad motioned to Eli who flicked the TV on and a few seconds later Connor, Cody and Bianca filled the screen.

"Oh May! Are you okay?" Bianca leaned in closer to the camera, her whole face taking over now. "You did such an amazing job, Connor said all the things he gave you are working, except for one that's a little muffled."

A hand appeared on her shoulder and Connor pulled her back. "You don't need to be closer for them to see you."

"Right. Sorry." Bianca sighed.

"I'm okay." May assured them.

"There is one that's moving May, did you put one in a car?" Connor asked.

"Yeah. Was that okay?"

"Great idea!" He assured her.

"Are you up to talking to us about tonight? Jason's gps thing said you went to a pub?" Bianca asked, managing not to lean forward again.

"I did. I think they all meet there. Upstairs in what I think is a function room." May explained, telling them all about it.

Not only that, she tried to give as many descriptions of people as she could including Josh's team. The whole time everyone just listened, never interrupting or pushing her for more if there was something she couldn't remember or went quiet about for a few seconds to think over. The occasional growls from her dad only made May angry as she thought about what they had said about her not knowing her family at all.

"Josh did say he thinks my family is different, as he's met Mum and Dad and said they don't see like others he's met. Maybe we can try and sway him onto our side, like if we tell him you're not these, savage, feral killers they think you all are?"

"No, at least not yet May. They'll expect you to defend us now, it's only natural. If you admit you do know after they believe you don't, it could backfire." Bianca yawned a little louder than she intended. "Sorry."

"May, what else did they show you?" Eli asked before anyone else could speak.

"What do you mean?"

"You saw the video of the shifters, and then they just bombarded you with all that. Something must have happened for them to think you are unaware of what we are." He seemed to think out loud. "You also said, showing me shifters I knew made it hard to ignore what they trying to prove, but you said you didn't know the pair."

"May?" Chad asked softly as she froze beside him. He had picked up on that too, but was goign to wait to ask. "What did they show you?"

May couldn't look at the screen, couldn't look at Bianca and staring at her hands in her lap knew she had to tell them. "Bianca, and Caleb. They came out of the forest and changed by the car before driving off. It would have been right before the accident."

"We didn't catch that, sorry May, you didn't speak loud enough." Connor reached forward and tapped something under their screen. "Try again?"

The others had all heard though and so Chad answered for May who couldn't bring herself to say it again.

"You were so brave tonight May. Be proud of yourself and what you have done." Bianca wiped her tears away as Cody kissed the top of her head from where he stood behind her.

"What do we do now?" Miranda wondered, praying it didn't involve May going anywhere near Josh and his friends.

"Sleep. If you can at least. We'll see what comes through tomorrow and I'll get Taylor and Jay to help me go through what's picked up." Connor told them. "She's right May. You did a great job."

It didn't feel like it, but May nodded anyway. Her father stuck by her side as she went upstairs - disappearing into his room while she went and had a shower. May had just got into bed when he reappeared, looking exhausted.

"Try to sleep princess." He told her, moving to sit beside her.

"I don't think that will be hard. I'm exhausted."

"I was so scared for you today. I don't doubt your capabilities May, I just, you're my little girl. If anything happens to you-" His voice trailed off as he looked away.

"I know Dad." May sat up and hugged him again. "I'll always be your little girl. Thank you for letting me do this."

"As if we could stop you anyway. You can be as stubborn as your mother sometimes." He grinned, knowing very well Miranda was in the doorway.

"I heard that." She called as she went on into their room.

"But you are also as smart, brave and amazing as her too. We are always here for you May."

"Thanks Dad. I love you, both of you so much."

"We love you too. Get some sleep, good night princess."

Braydon turned the light off as he left her room and closed the door. Settling into her bed, May was ready to pass out yet, instead she thought of Eli and something he had said the night they first met. He knew she wasn't a full shifter, just like him yet she hadn't sensed anything about Rohit. Was it because he was human, thanks to his genetics? The more she made herself wait until morning, the more she thought about it until finally May got up and creeping downstairs, found Eli and his siblings asleep already. Deciding not to wake them, she turned to head back to her room only she didn't get very far when she heard footsteps behind her.

"Hi." She whispered to Eli.

"Hello?"

"Can we talk for a sec?" He nodded and followed her through the kitchen to outside. It was freezing and May decided to make it quick. "When we met you said to me that I can't tell the difference between us and them. You were talking about us as in not full bloods, right?"

"Yeah?"

"How do I tell?" May begged, trying not to shiver.

"Can you sense other shifters, ones you don't know, that aren't pack?"

"Yes."

"Okay, well that's good. With you, it's not so easy. You smell like a shifter, it's quite strong. Probably because you're with a pack, around them constantly and will eventually shift." There was more there that May wanted to ask about, but she only nodded instead. "Chad is like us, can you tell the difference between him and your father?"

"I know their scent, isn't that the same thing?"

"No, not quite. It's what's in their scent. There are layers to everything, starting with the base or core which is your scent. Then there are layers, things you've picked up from being places and seeing other people's, emotions. It all adds to it, and then there is something in ours that is, different." He thought about it for a second. "Tomorrow, we'll work on it okay? You're shivering and I'm cold too, plus it's past midnight."

"Okay. But just quickly, how do you know about it?"

"I worked it out for myself. I've always had a good sense of smell, before I shifted too. Then it just got better." He shrugged moving inside after her. "Maybe I was supposed to be a beagle?"

May laughed, not having to try hard to imagine it. "Thanks Eli, I needed that."

"Anytime. I get we're part of the pack now, and all that stuff, but I owe you for saving Selena. I trusted you to help us and you did. I'll never be able to repay you, so if you need anything, just ask."

The pair stopped in the corridor and something in May understood exactly what he meant. Despite their initial introduction, she liked Eli - trusted him, which was strange considering she hardly knew him or his family. Despite knowing she had her alpha's support, her parents and essentially the packs, having Eli there for her made sense; the loyalty he was giving to only her fuelled a confidence May didn't know she even had.

"I will." She told him seriously, before heading back up to her room while he settled back down with his siblings.

Something else had just changed in May. She felt it, yet didn't understand at all, kind of how it had been with Nate earlier and he'd sat by her side when she had spoke to her Dad about Josh. With a sigh, she thought of Caleb and closed her eyes.

'I'm going to get you out of there Caleb.' May promised as sleep finally came. 'I'll come for you.'

______________

Caleb opened his eyes, and quickly closed them bright light to his left nearly blinded him. Something tight was around his wrists, and ankles. If he moved, it hurt. Actually all of him hurt. Instinct told him to shift, let the wolf take over while his body healed, yet the voice wasn't there. Cold, pure panic washed over him, and forcing his eyes open again, he managed to turn his head to the right where darkness allowed him to blink - once, twice and then slowly looked back the other way.

There she was, a faint shadow in the light that wasn't getting any closer.

"I'll come for you." She promised.

"No. Stay." He coughed. "I need, you! Please. Stay."

Yet she gone and without his wolf or his mate - he was completely alone.

"Is he awake?" Another bright light was in his eyes as they were torn open. "Pupils are not responsive."

Who was that woman?

Where was he?

Trying to ask the question was impossible as he felt like his body wasn't his own. Trapped, yet not because he had no choice other than letting the wolf be in control. This wasn't right, wasn't natural and as the murmured voices grew quieter, words like hospital, accident, sedation - vaguely registered in his mind before he was gone again.